Wednesday's loss to Mets was Padres' first to a left-hander this season

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“It was a bad inning. We've played close to 80 innings and we have had just a couple of bad innings on the whole. Walks are part of it. Late in the game, we can't walk guys and have wild pitches.”

–Padres manager Bud Black talking about the seventh inning Wednesday, when the Padres gave up four runs although the only hit in the inning was a bunt single that was intended to be a sacrifice bunt.

OVERVIEW

The five-game winning streak ended with Wednesday night's 7-2 loss to the Mets at Citi Field ... Jake Peavy starts for the Padres Thursday (4:05 p.m., TV: 4 San Diego) in the rubber game of the three-game series that opened the Mets new ballpark ... Wednesday's loss was the Padres first to a left-handed starter (4-1) ... The Padres have turned 11 doubleplays in nine games, including three Wednesday night.

Pitching: Padres relievers had worked 16 straight scoreless innings before the Mets scored four runs in the seventh on Wednesday night ... Padres pitchers issued no walks Saturday or Sunday, marking the first time since May 13-14, 2007, that Padre pitchers haven't allowed a walk in back-to-back games ... Chris Young retired the first 12 Giants he faced Sunday after Jake Peavy retired the first nine hitters he faced Saturday night ... Padres relievers have allowed an earned run in only two of the 26 innings they've worked.

Hitting: After hitting .155 for their first 110 at-bats, the Padres have hit .270 (48-for-178) since ... And after starting the season 3-for-26 with runners in scoring position, the Padres have hit .316 (12-for-38) since, although they were only 1-for-5 Wednesday night ... The Padres hadn't trailed in four straight games before Wednesday night's loss ... Padres lead-off center fielders Scott Hairston (6-for-11, a homer, three RBI and two walks) and Jody Gerut (3-for-8, a homer, an RBI, two walks) are 9-for-19 over the last five games after Padres lead-off hitters were only 1-for-17 in the season's first four games.

PITCHERS

Starters

Jake Peavy: Will start Thursday's series finale in New York ... Like Chris Young, Peavy was a model of efficiency in his last start Saturday night against the Giants, throwing only 104 pitches in 8 1/3 innings -- averaging 3.5 pitches a hitter and 12.5 per inning. He didn't walk a hitter to go with his 10 strikeouts ... It marked the Padres record 28th time that Peavy had struck out 10 or more hitters in a game ... Peavy retired the first nine hitters he faced Saturday night after retiring 12 of the last 14 hitters he faced on last Monday's season opener.

Chris Young: Opens the season in Philadelphia on Friday night ... Avenged a 0-2 record in two head-to-head 2008 matches with Tim Lincecum with Sunday's effort against the Giants ... Was 2-0 record and 1.38 ERA for two games in season's first week ... Retired first 12 Giants he faced Sunday and has retired the side in order in eight of the 13 innings he's worked ... Didn't walk a hitter Sunday. Young is 5-0 in his career in the six starts where he has pitched seven or more inning without walking a hitter ... Averaged 13 pitches an inning Sunday.

Shawn Hill: To keep Jake Peavy and Chris Young working on their regular five-day rotation while giving him extra rest, Hill will be pushed back two days with his next scheduled start Saturday in Philadelphia rather than Thursday in New York ... Allowed two runs on seven hits in five-plus innings Friday night in his Padres debut. Went into the sixth having allowed only one run on three hits, then gave up four straight hits without retiring a hitter in the sixth. It was his first start since elbow problems ended his 2008 season with Washington on June 24. Hill threw only 69 pitches (47 strikes) while facing 23 hitters. Said Padres manager Bud Black of Hill: He is efficient. I thought stuff-wise, he was throwing the ball well.

Kevin Correia: Has allowed five runs over 11 innings in his first two starts ... Opponents hitting .250 (10-for-40) against Correia, who has also issued six walks ... Has 10 strikeouts in 11 innings ... Padres have turned three doubleplays behind Correia ... Three of four walks issued to the Didgers in his first start came in the same inning, including one with the bases loaded.

Walter Silva: Came out of Monday's start in New York (4 2/3 innings) experiencing an inflammation in his right forearm and might miss his next scheduled start Sunday in Philadelphia ... Has 6.52 ERA after two Padres starts ... Entered the fifth Monday in New York holding a 5-1 and was within one out of qualifying for his first major league win when he gave up three-run homer to David Wright ... Allowed two runs on five hits over five innings in his Padres and United States pro debut last Wednesday despite being understandably nervous ... Has allowed one homer in each of his first two starts.

Relievers

Heath Bell: 4-for-4 in save situations after pitching a perfect ninth against his former team in New York Monday night ... Got much needed day off Monday after at least warming up for five straight games and working in three ... Got first two saves against the Dodgers, including working out of a runner-on-third, no-outs jam last Thursday by getting Manny Ramirez to ground out to third followed by a game-ending double play ... Enters games to the sound of “Blow Me Away” by Breaking Benjamin.

Eulogio De La Cruz: Has made one appearance in Padres first nine games and none since April 8 ... Fastball reached 96 mph in that outing. While that's his trademark, it was his changeup that got him through a scoreless inning.

Luke Gregerson: After working six straight scoreless innings to launch his Padres career, threw 10 straight balls to open the second inning he worked Wednesday night in New York before he was pulled. Both runners scored ... Rookie inherited a bases-loaded, no-out jam from Hill Friday night and got out of it without allowing a run by getting a doubleplay grounder and a strikeout ... He has options and could be sent out when the Padres reduce their bullpen from eight to seven.

Cla Meredith: Picked up the win Thursday with a scoreless inning of relief ... Has appeared in only two of the Padres first nine games and has not been used since the last game of the Dodger series on April 9, raising speculation on the health of the shoulder that bothered him this spring ... Could he be a candidate for the disabled list when a reliever is trimmed.

Edwin Moreno: Worked two scoreless in New York Monday night in his longest outing of the season to help protect the win ... In four appearances, Moreno has not allowed an earned run despite giving up four hits and four walks ... An error cost him an unearned run last Friday night ... Appeared three times in a four-game span (throwing 78 pitches) before getting last weekend off ... Has thrown 112 pitches in his four outings.

Edward Mujica: Has mixed results after five appearances ... His wildness (a wild pitch and a walk) led to two of the runs scored by the Mets in the seventh on Wednesday, even though he was charged with only one run ... Evened his record at 1-1 by getting the win by retiring the only hitter he faced Monday in New York ... 7.71 ERA after 4 2/3 innings the highest among Padres relievers.

Luis Perdomo: Made his major league debut Wednesday in New York and immediately gave up a homer to Carlos Delgado ... Claimed off waivers from the Giants last Friday ... Was a Rule 5 selection by the Giants last December off the roster of the Cardinals, meaning the Padres cannot option him to the minor leagues without first passing him through waivers then offering him back to the Cardinals.

Duaner Sanchez: Has allowed only one walk in three scoreless innings while pitching in setup role in three Padres wins ... A great catch by Scott Hairston at the left-center wall Friday night saved Sanchez at least one run ... Figures to share setup role with Meredith.

POSITION PLAYERS

Henry Blanco (C): Will be in lineup Thursday night, catching Jake Peavy for the third time in as many Peavy starts ... Drove two Jonathan Sanchez pitches into the left field stands in his first two at-bats Saturday night for the third multi-homer game of his career and his first since 2004 ... Started three of the Padres first nine games and Black won't predict the number of games Blanco will catch, but a one-third mix with Nick Hundley is possible ... 1-for-4 against runners and has a 41 percent career success rate.

Everth Cabrera (SS): Rule 5 addition started two games at short during the first week ... Helped turn doubleplays in two pressure situations, including game-ending one Thursday afternoon that preserved one-run win ... Reached base twice in first major league start Wednesday night ... Better range at shortstop than Luis Rodriguez. Figures to see much more playing time than past Padre Rule 5 picks ... Question for fastest Padre is his hitting.

David Eckstein (2B): 0-for-4 Wednesday after going 7-for-19 in previous five games with four doubles and three RBI after 1-for-9 start to the season ... Has already had three at-bats of 10-or-more pitches ... Was 0-for-4 in only game in leadoff slot ... Great bases-loaded, two-out diving stop going toward first last Thursday saved the Padres two runs.

Jody Gerut (CF): With right-hander John Maine starting for the Mets Thursday, Gerut will be back in center and in the lead-off spot ... Bat used Monday to homer leading off the first inning of the first game at Citi Field (on three pitches) to be displayed at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown ... Held to four starts in season's first nine games because the Padres faced four left-handed starters ... 4-for-16 with two walks while in the lead-off slot (.292 last year) ... 3-for-8 actually leading off an inning ... 1-for-3 as a pinch-hitter.

Brian Giles (RF): 1-for-17 the past three games and 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position ... Overall 3-for-13 in RISP situations ... Twice failed to get runner home from third last weekend in two, bases-loaded, one-out situations. ... Had the 500th multi-hit game of his career Friday night after a slow 2-for-14 start. Has .231 on-base percentage after nine games.

Adrian Gonzalez (1B): Hit third homer of the season and 100th of his career Wednesday night in New York ... Homered in each of the first two games at Citi Field ... Has RBI in six straight games and hits in eighth straight ... Giants and Mets didn't shift against Gonzalez and pitched to him in RISP situations after the Dodgers defensed Gonzalez with three infielders on the right side of the infield while also pitching around him and walking him four times in RISP situations ... has .388 on-base percentage ... Reached base seven times in 16 plate appearances against the Dodgers ... Dodger strategy raises questions about how teams will pitch Gonzalez this season after his 119 RBI in 2008 represented 19.3 percent of all the runs scored by the Padres.

Edgar Gonzalez: One start (at third) Thursday resulted in fielding miscue that cost the Padres two runs and a triple that help trigger a game-winning rally ... 0-for-4 with a walk as pinch-hitter. ... Start at third was only his third at the position in the major leagues.

Scott Hairston (OF): Started five of the Padres first nine games in center because the Padres have faced five left-handed starters ... In four games as the lead-off man, hitting .333 (5-for-15 with two walks, a steal and a decisive three-run homer Friday night against the Giants ... His game-opening single in the first last Friday ended 0-for-16 run by Padres leadoff hitters ... Also made leaping catch at the wall in the eighth inning Friday to rob Bengie Molina of a double and save a run while Padres leading 4-2 ... Has 15 homers in 259 at-bats at Petco Park. 1-for-5 in RISP situations ... Hit .280 with 10 of his 17 homers against left-handed pitching last season.

Chase Headley (LF): 0-for-7 in first two games in New York ... Has hit fifth in the order behind Adrian Gonzalez in past three games, going 2-for-11 with a homer and two RBI ... Homered for the second straight game Sunday ... His homer Saturday night ended a season-opening slump that saw him strike out nine times in his first 20 at-bats ... Has 11 strikeouts in first 35 at-bats after averaging one strikeout every 3.1 at-bats in 2008.

Nick Hundley (C): 1-for-8 with four strikeouts in two game since Sunday, when he fell a homer short of the Padres first-ever cycle Sunday and was 4-for-4, doubling his previous career high ... Also had tough night behind the plate Wednesday, having trouble handling some pitches while allowing one run to score on throwing error ... Started six of the first nine games while working in tandem with Blanco ... Only starter not to get a hit Friday night and struck out twice ... Struck out three times in New York Monday night.

Kevin Kouzmanoff (3B): Dropped to sixth in the order for the third straight game Wednesday and fourth time this season after 1-for-7 start to the season in RISP situations ... Now 1-for-9 in RISP situations ... 4-for-24 in his last six starts with no extra-base hits and one RBI ... Had eight strikeouts in 32 at-bats ... Hitting .188 with .212 on-base percentage ... Drew first walk last Sunday after drawing only 23 for all of 2008 ... Has two multi-hit games, including Sunday to give him 10 career hits against Tim Lincecum ... Missed last Thursday's game with sore hamstring ... Kouzmanoff hit .254 with runners in scoring position last season and only six of his 23 homers came in RISP situations.

Luis Rodriguez (SS): Quietly very productive ... 2-for-4 Wednesday makes him 5-for-17 with eight walks and three sacrifice flies in first 28 plate appearances for four RBI and .520 on-base percentage ... On Friday, with Padres trying to add to 4-2 lead, thrown out at third on base-running mistake then allowed Giants to score on ninth-inning throwing error ... Lacks the range of Khalil Greene at short, but has done nice job converting doubleplays.